At the end of a long day, nothing is better than finding a warm meal waiting for you at home. How do you turn this wonderful scenario into a reality without the help of a personal chef? With a slow cooker, of course! All it takes is a little time in the morning to prep a healthy, low-calorie meal. Since the calorie ranges of these recipes varies quite a bit, you should adjust serving sizes as you see fit, and add any sides, mix-ins, or toppings that you want.

Affordable and easy to use, this kitchen appliance will totally revolutionize the way you cook. Just pick a recipe, prep it before you head out for the day, and set your machine to low. Dinner will be ready whenever you return. Try out one of these 11 healthy recipes under 500 calories to get yourself started and prepare to become totally hooked.

An important note here: Calories aren't inherently bad. In fact, calories are essential, since they are (literally) the energy that fuels our bodies. Counting calories isn't for everybody, and while it's important to eat an appropriate amount of calories for your body and your goals, you don't need to count calories to maintain a healthy weight, or even to lose weight. If you have a history of disordered eating, you should talk to your doctor before making any changes to your eating habits.